Packing - Rocket Raccoon
“Humie!” Rocket shouts. “One hour until take off. You ready to roll?”
You don’t respond, knowing he won’t like your answer. You are the farthest thing from ready, but hopefully he won’t realise that.
“Humie!” he tries again, this time approaching your sleeping quarters and leaning his shoulder on the doorframe. “What the hell? Have you even started packing yet? We’re gonna be gone a couple of days, max. It’s not that hard. Throw some clothes in a bag and let's go already.”
You just stare back at him, suddenly more overwhelmed than you already were. Maybe he thinks packing isn’t that hard, but it is for you. There’s so many things to consider. What will the weather be like? What will you need to stay safe and comfortable? Will you be able to eat the food? Last, but certainly not least, what will you need to entertain yourself during a potentially very boring stakeout? You need options to answer all of these questions, but not so many that everything won’t fit in your one allotted duffle bag for the mission. And god forbid you forget something vital and spend the entire time away from the ship kicking yourself for it. Ugh! Why did packing have to be so complicated?!
Sensing your sudden unease, Rocket steps closer. “Hey, humie, you good?”
You shrug. “Not really. I hate packing.”
“So do most people, but it’s gotta get done”
“I know. I just…. Don’t know where to start.”
Rocket heaves an overly dramatic sigh. “Alright, apparently nobody around here can do anything without my input. Let me see it.”
You hand over an unfortunately bare duffel bag.
“Wow, humie. This is pitiful. Back to basics, I see. Alright, let’s start easy. Fun things. What are you bringing to not die of boredom? I assume that weird communicator of yours?”
You nod. “And this.” You toss him another square electronic brick.
“Why do you need two communicators?” he questions, turning the device over in his hands.
“I don’t. That’s an ereader. For books.”
“You couldn’t just, you know, bring an actual book?”
You shrug again. “Always gotta have options. And that takes up less room than multiple real books.”
“Fair enough.” Rocket tosses it into the front pocket of the bag. “Now necessities.”
“Ugh!” You groan.
“Start with battle gear and weapons. You know what you need.”
You comply easily, adding to the main pocket of the bag.
“Now at least one set of comfortable clothes. Unless you want to sleep in your gear.”
“Pass.” You grimace, as you grab your favourite set of worn out loungewear. You weren’t going to bring actual nice pairs of pyjamas to a foreign planet.
This pattern continues with Rocket giving you categories of items and you choosing the items you packed within those categories. Soon enough, your bag is filled to the brim with everything you could possibly need over the next couple of days.
“See, that wasn’t so hard, now was it?” Rocket says, arms folded over his chest. You just pout back at him. “Okay, so it sucked. I get it. Plus side, unpacking will suck way less. In fact, you may want to just leave this bag packed. That way, you’re ready to go all the time.”
“That’s actually not a terrible idea. Thanks, Rocket.” You smile slightly at him.
“No problem humie, now let’s go already! We move out in five.”
“I’m coming, I’m coming.” You chuckle, rolling your eyes as you sling your bag over your shoulder and move to follow him.